Reports of students cleaning toilet in school irk activists

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In an appalling incident, school girls from RM Jain Government Girls Higher Secondary School were made to clean the toilets last Thursday, with their bare hands during their class hours.

A girl student cleaning the toilet at RM Jain Government School

Chennai:

Speaking to DT Next, a student said that they were threatened to clean the toilets but didn’t expect it. “We have earlier been asked to clear the garbage. But last Thursday, the PT and Class leaders of all the higher classes were called to the Principal’s room and were told that we would have to clean the toilet. When we asked for gloves, we were not given anything. In addition, we were also asked not to convey this to our parents. Our class was cleaning from 10 am to 12 pm and other classes too took turns. The toilet was in a pathetic condition and we all retched while cleaning it,” said the student, adding that they were asked to clean the toilet because the conservancy staff didn’t come.

Meanwhile, Dinesh, District Secretary, Students Federation of India (SFI), has filed a complaint with District Collector, stating that the head of the institution is indulging in several illegal activities. “The school collects money from the students for such services but the students were told to clean the toilet. In addition to this, the school collects extra money without proper receipt or reason,” he said, adding that if they don’t clean, the students are hit and scolded in an unparliamentary language.

“There are allegations that the school headmaster also pilfers the stock meant for mid-day meal scheme,” Dinesh added.

A district education official, who held an inquiry into the incident, said, “We have conducted inquiry and forwarded our report to higher authorities.” Three children were allegedly asked to clean the toilets by a teacher, he said. The students were present at the inquiry, he said, without elaborating.